Printing press



Aug. 19, 1941 W. H. GRANGER PRINTING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March7, 1940 Allg. 19, 1941. W, H @RANGER 2,253,120

PRINTING PRESS Filed March 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheeyts-Sxeet 3PRINTING PRESS W. H. GBANGER Filed March '7, 1940 Aug. 19, 1941.

Patented Aug. 19, 1941 PRNTING PRESS Wallace lil. Granger, SanFrancisco, Calif., as-

signor to The Duplex Printing Press Company, Battle Creek, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application March 7, 194%, Serial No. 322,791

(Cl. lill-256) 13 Claims.

This invention is a novel improvement in flatbed travelling cylinderprinting presses having stationary beds for the type forms andimpression cylinders mounted in cross-heads travelling back and forthover the beds. Such presses have heretofore been designed to print onone stroke only of the cylinder over the form, the cylinder being raisedout of printing contact with the bed` on the reverse stroke; also suchpresses have been designed to print on both strokes.` A twoway presswill obviously deliver a greater product than a one-way press, but theprinting section of a two-way press will loe somewhat longer than thatof a one-way press, due to the requisite additional inking fountains andmechanism, necessitating a longer stroke of the cylinder crossheads.

Heretofore, when the output from a-one-Way press became too small forthe owner of such press, the owner would be forced to purchase andinstall an entirely new and larger press, replacing the smaller press.Even if the discarded one-way press was in good `mechanical condition`and not approaching obsolescence, the replacement would involve a lossin the trade-in value thereof in vide a press of the above type built insectional units, one `unit comprising a paper feeding and deliverysection, another unit comprising the printing section of a one-waypress; and a further unit comprising the printing section ofa twowaypress, the two printing units being interchangeably connected with thepaper feeding and delivery unit, whereby the owner of a one-waypressiconstructed according to my invention,` Whose circulationrequirements has increased sufciently to justify almachine of greateroutput, can secure this result by merely replacing the one-way printingunit of his press with a twoway printing unit, joining the new unit tothe original paper feeding and delivery unit in the same identicalmanner 'and by the same means that the one-way unit was `securedthereto.

`A further object of the invention is to provide each printing unit withcross-head driving mechanism disposed under the unit to facilitateinterchangeability, the driving mechanism for each printing unit beingmade either as a separate section bolted to the underside of theprinting f unit for the sake of simplicity in erection of the press, ormade as an integral part of the printing unit; and the driving mechanismof each printing unit comprising means for reciprocating its respectedcross-head, and including a driven gear adapted to mesh directly with agear on a shaft carried by the paper feeding and delivery unit to whichthe printing unit is coupled, to operate the paper feeding and deliveryrolls in timed rela-- tion with respect to the movement of thecrosshead, the gear of the driving mechanism for the two-way printingunit rotating said shaft of the paper feeding and delivery rolls twiceas fast as that of the one-way section.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.`

I will explain the invention withreference to the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enable othersfamiliar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize inthe claims, the novel features of construction, and novel combinationsof parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a press showing the paper handling unitcoupled with a` one-Way printing unit, and showing gear of the drivingmechanism for the cross-heads of the printing unit meshing with the gearin the drive shaft of the paper handling unit which operates the paperfeeding and delivery rolls thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation` similar to Fig. 1, but showing the one-wayprinting unit replaced by a two-way printing unit, the paper handlingunit remaining unchanged. i

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the press is preferably built in units, unitA comprising the paper feeding and delivery section; and unit B,detachably connected therewith, comprising the printing section. Theremay also be the custom-` ary paper folding section (not shown) connectedfor operation with the paper feeding and delivery unit A, but thefolding section forms nov part of my present invention.

Unit A comprises side frames i, in which is journaled the axle 2supporting the web roll W. In said frames `adjacent rollW is a feed roll3 for web w above which is journaled a web delivery roll li, the shaftsof rolls 3 and 4 carrying sprockets 3a and 4a around which runs a chain5 to drive the rolls 3 and 4 in unison, On the end of the shaft ofdelivery rollll vis a beveled gear meshing with a beveled gear 'l on adownwardly inclined drive shaft 8, journaled in any desired manner onside frames I, and carrying a beveled gear 9 at its lower end whichoverlaps the driving mechanism of the printing unit. Also journaled inside frames I are equalizing rolls I and II revolving around drivenshafts I2 and I3 having gears I2a. and I 3a thereon meshing with anintermediate gear I4, whereby the shafts are driven in unison. On theshaft I3 is the beveled gear l5 meshing with a beveled gear I6 on theinclined drive shaft 8, for the purpose of driving the equalizing rollsby and with the movement of the feed and delivery rolls 3 and 4.

The one-way printing unit B preferably comprises side frames I1 formingcontinuations of the side frames I, same being adjustably connectedtherewith in any desired manner such as by bolts connecting theirmeeting faces. In side frames I'I are mounted the lower and upper flattype beds I 8 and I9. In the sides of frames I7 are guide slots for thereciprocating crossheads 2| which carry the respective impressioncylinders 22 and 23 which lcoact with the beds [Band I 9, Cross-heads 2lalso carry the respective sets of inking rolls 24 and 25 for the beds,said rolls being applied with ink from fountains 26 and 21 arranged atthe adjacent end of the 'unit B in the customary manner. The particularconstruction and yarrangement of the inking rolls and fountains form nopart of my present invention.

Cross-heads 2| are provided with offset extensions at theirlower endsoperating in a pit P disposed below the main floor level F of the press.Integralv with or detachably attached to the undersides of frames I1 arethe frame extension members 28 of the driving'mechanism also`disposed/in the pit P. Journaled in extension members 23 is a crankshaft 29 disposed below the beds I8 and I9, said shaft carryingCrankarms 3i) disposed intermediate the outer faces of member l28 andthe offset lower eXtensions of the cross-heads 2I as indicated in Fig.2.

Each crank arm 30 carries a crank pin 3| operating ina verticallydisposed slot 32 in the crossliead 2l forming -a Scotch-yoke drive forthe cross-head. Preferably the inner end of each crank arm 3'3 isweighted as at-33 to counterbalance same. i Also journaled in extensionmembers 28 isa drive shaft 34 which is driven in any rsuitable mannerfrom a prime mover (not shown) preferably also disposed in pit P, saidshaft 34 carrying a pinion 35 meshing with a gear 3?, on the crank shaft29 for imparting rotationto the arms 3i). Journaled in extension members28 adjacent the beveled gear 9 of sli-aft 8 is a shaft 31 carrying onits yend a bevel gear 38 directly meshing with said bevel gear 9.Shaft3'l also carries a gear 39 meshing with an idler `gear Mon a-shaft4I journaled in the Iriernbers'Z-B,l which idler 4U also meshes with thepinion 35 on drive shaft 34.

By'the above construction, drive shaft 3.43 will actuate the crank shaft29, through gears 35 and 36,'to impart reciprocatory motion tocrossheads 2|. Drive shaft 34 4will also simultaneously rotate theinclined drivev shaft 8 of the feed andV delivery rolls 3 and 4 of thepaper handling unit A, through the gears or pinions 35j4tl, 39, 33 and9, andy thus when the press shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is in operation, thepaper web w` from roll W will be fed over suitable guide and' loopingrollers to and between the feed roll 3 andiits cooperating roll; fromthence under suitable guide rolls to and over the lower equalzer rollII, from thence over or under suitable guide rolls to and between thelower impression cylinder 22 and its rel-ated bed I 8 from thence oversuitable guide rolls to and under the upper impression cylinder 23 andits related bed I9. From thence the web passes by means of suitableguide rolls to and under the upper equalizer roll I U, to and betweenYthe delivery roll 4 and its cooperating roll, and from thence aroundsuitable angle bars at the top of section A to the folding unit (notshown). Since the printing unit B shown in Figs. 1 'and 2 is a one-waypress, printing will be effected during only one stroke of thecross-heads 2|, the impression Icylinders being held raised in its usualmanner out of printing contact with the beds on the reverse stroke.

When the press output, using the one-way printing unit B` (Figs. 1 and2) becomes too small, and a two-way printing unit would fulllcirculation requirements, the owner may discard the one-way printingunit B and insert in place thereof the related two-way printing unit Cshown in Fig. 3, utilizing however the same paper feedand delivery unitA (and the same folding section). Obviously a. two-Way press willdeliver greater volumes than a one-way press. This procedure obviatesthe necessity on the part of the press owner of having to purchase andinstall anentirely new larg-er press, and further obviating the loss intrade-in value of the one-way press, and saving the time and costrequired to dismantle the one-way press and install the larger one, plusthe possible expense of having his product furnished by others duringsuch installation.

As shown in Fig. 3, the two-way printing unit C is generally similar inconstruction and arrangement to the one-way printing unit B, but

obviously unit C is slightly longer because of the needed additionalinking mechanism, necessitating a somewhat longer stroke of theYcross-head.

The two-way printing unit C (Fig. 3) preferably comprises side Vframes I1a adapted to form continuations of the side frames I of the paper feedand delivery unit A which latter is the same identical unit as shown inFig. 1. Frames I 'la support the lower type bed I8@ and upper bed I 9a,and are provided with guide slots 28a for the cross-heads 2m, whichlatter carry the lower impression cylinder 22a and the upper impressioncylinder 23a also the lower and upper sets of inking rollers 24a. and25a mounted in the cross-heads at each side (instead of one side .ionly) of the respective impression cylinders 22a and 23a. Inkingfountains 26a, 27a are mounted at each end of the unit C for supplyingink to the lower and upper linking rollers 24a, 25a.

Frame extensions 28a for the unit driving mechanism are provided on theundersides of the frames I'Ia, the same being either integral withframes Ha, or detachably secured thereto in any desired manner, andextending down into pit P into which the lower offset ends of thecross-heads 2|a also project. Crank shaft 29a.

is mounted in the frame extensions 28a and 'carries the crank arms 30aprovided with crank pins 3Ia operating in the vertical slots 32a in thecross-heads 2Ia., forming .a Scotch-yoke drive for said cross-heads.Drive shaft 34a is likewise journaled in the frame extensions 28a andcarries a pinion 35a meshing with a gear 36a on crank shaft 29a forimparting rotation to said arms to reciprocate the cross-heads. A shaft37a is mounted in the frame extensions 28a amd carries a bevel gear 38adirectly meshing with the bevel gear 9 at the lower end of shaft 8 whichactuates the paper feed and delivery rolls 3 and 4 of unit A. Shaft Band beveled gear 9 are identical in both Figs. 1 and 3, both beingdirectly used in connection with the oneway and two-Way printing units Band C. Shaft 31a carries a pinion 39a meshing with the intermediate gear46a on shaft Ma, which gear also meshes with pinion 35a on drive shaft34a.

In the two-way press shown in Fig. v3, shaft 8 of the paper feed anddelivery unit A must obviously be driven twice as fast as when theone-way printing unit B (Figs. 1 and 2) is in use. This is conventientlyaccomplished by selection of the proper size of gears in unit C torotate shaft 31d of said section twice as fast as shaft 31 in unit B,the position of the shafts 3l and 3io, however remaining the same inboth sections B and C, so

that the beveled gear 9 of shaft 8 will directly mesh with either of thebeveled gears 36 or 3fm depending upon which unit B or C is installed.

The provision in my `press of interchangeable one-way and two-wayprinting units B and C directly useable with the same paper feeding anddelivery unit A, is novel and constitutes an important feature of myinvention; also the provision in said interchangeable printing units ofmeans for varying the speed of the paper handling parts is important,for by such arrangement and construction when the output of the one-waypress becomes too small, and a two-Way press will fill the requirements,the owner of a oneway press whose requirements has increased enough tojustify a machine of greater output, can readily secure this result bymerely replacing the one-way printing unit B shown in Fig. 1 with thetwo-way printing unit C shown in Fig. 3, the driving section of eachprinting unit being disposed thereunder to facilitate the above change.This procedure saves the owner the necessity of having to purchase andinstall an entirely new and larger press, after having removed the oldpress.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details shown in the drawings,for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of theclaims.

I claim:

l. A printing press, comprising a paper feeding and delivery unit havingweb feeding and delivery rolls; and a fiat bed travelling cylinderprinting unit detachably connected with said first mentioned unit andprovided with reciprocating cross-heads carrying the cylinders, anddriving mechanism in said printing unit for reciprocating saidcross-heads and for rotating the feeding and delivery rolls of the firstmentioned unit.

2. In a printing press as set forth in claim 1, said printing unitcomprising a one-way press, and said driving mechanism impartingcorresponding speed of rotation to the feeding and delivery rolls.

eating cross-heads carrying the cylinders, and driving mechanismdisposed below said printing unit for reciprocating said cross-heads andfor rotating the feeding and delivery rolls of the first mentioned unit.

5. In a printing press as set forth in claim 4, said printing unitcomprising a one-way press, and said driving mechanism impartingcorrespending speed of rctaton to the feeding and delivery rolls.

6. In a printing press as set forth in claim 4, said printing unitcomprising a two-way press, and said driving mechanism impartingcorrespending speed cf rotation to the feeding and delivery rolls.

'7. A printing press comprising a paper feeding and delivery unit havingweb feeding and delivery rolls; and a flat bed travelling cylinderprinting unit detachably connected with said rst mentioned unit andprovided with reciprocating cross-heads carrying the cylinders, drivingmechanism in said printing unit for reciprocating said cross-heads, saidmechanism including a driven gear; and a shaft journaled in said firstmentioned unit and having a gear adapted to mesh with said driven gearwhen the units are connected, said shaft imparting rotation to thefeeding and delivery rolls of the first mentioned unit.

8. In a printing press as set forth in claim '7, said printing unitcomprising a one-way press, and said driving mechanism including meansfor rotating the driven gear to impart corresponding speed of rotationto the feeding and delivery rolls.

9. In a printing press as set forth in claim '7, said printing unitcomprising a two-way press, and said driving mechanism including meansfor rotating the driven gear to impart corresponding speed of rotationto the feeding and delivery rolls.

10. A printing press comprising a paper feeding and delivery unit havingweb feeding and delivery rolls; and a flat bed travelling cylinderprinting unit detachably connected with said iirst mentioned unit andprovided with reciproeating cross-heads carrying the cylinders, drivingmechanism depending from the lower end of said printing unit forreciprocating said crossheads, said mechanism including a driven gear;and a shaft journaled in said first mentioned unit and having a gearadapted to mesh with said driven gear when the units are connected, saidshaft imparting rotation to the feeding and de livery rolls of the firstmentioned unit.

11. In a printing press as set forth in claim l0, said printing unitcomprising a one-way press, and said driving mechanism including meansfor rotating the driven gear toimpart corresponding speed of rotation tothe feeding and delivery rolls. l2. In a printing press as set forth inclaim 10, said printing unit comprising a two-way press, and saiddriving mechanism including means for rotating the driven gear to impartcorresponding speed of rotation to the feeding and delivery rolls.

13. In a printing press as` set forth in claim 10, said drivingmechanism including a crank shaft disposed below the bed, cranks on saidshaft carrying pins operating in vertically disposed slots in the lowerends of the cross-heads, a drive shaft, gearing between the drive shaftand crank shaft, and gearing between the drive shaft and driven gear.

WALLACE I-I. GRANGER.

